Home-Based Physiotherapy in Oncology

Home-Based Physiotherapy for Oncology Patients: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Supervised Exercise Programme

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a supervised home-based physiotherapy programme for adult oncology patients. The programme combines aerobic cycling exercise, resistance training, and mental preparation strategies, delivered at home with regular professional supervision.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Is a 6-month supervised home-based physiotherapy programme feasible in terms of recruitment, adherence, and retention?

Is the programme safe for oncology patients undergoing or having recently completed cancer treatment?

Is the programme acceptable and satisfactory from the patient's perspective?

How do physical function and health-related quality of life change over the course of the programme?

This is a single-arm feasibility study with no comparison group.

Participants will:

Receive a stationary exercise bike delivered and installed at their home

Follow a 6-month individualized physiotherapy programme including:

Three weekly sessions combining moderate-intensity cycling and resistance exercises

Wear a connected activity watch during exercise sessions to monitor heart rate and exercise duration

Receive weekly supervision from oncology-trained physiotherapists through alternating in-person hospital visits and structured phone calls

Complete physical function assessments and questionnaires on quality of life, fatigue, and programme satisfaction at baseline, mid-program, and study completion

The results of this study will inform the design of a future larger controlled trial and contribute to the development of accessible home-based rehabilitation programmes for oncology patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Rehabilitation Exercise; Oncologic Diseases
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Home-based cycling + resistance training with physiotherapist supervision

Detailed Description

This study is a prospective, single-centre, single-arm feasibility clinical trial conducted at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG). It evaluates the implementation of a long-duration supervised home-based physiotherapy programme for adult oncology patients.

A total of 21 participants will be enrolled in three sequential cohorts of approximately seven participants each. Each participant will follow a single 6-month intervention period; cohorts are implemented sequentially for logistical and organisational reasons but follow identical study procedures.

The intervention consists of a 6-month home-based physiotherapy programme combining aerobic cycling exercise, resistance training, and mental preparation strategies. At study initiation, a stationary exercise bike is delivered and installed in the participant's home. An individualized exercise prescription is developed by oncology-trained physiotherapists based on baseline functional assessments and clinical status.

Participants are asked to complete three supervised exercise sessions per week. Each session includes approximately 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic cycling followed by 20 minutes of resistance training. Exercise intensity is prescribed and monitored using perceived exertion and heart rate criteria consistent with current oncology exercise guidelines. A connected activity watch is provided to each participant and worn only during exercise sessions to record heart rate and exercise duration.

Supervision is ensured through weekly contact with oncology physiotherapists, alternating between in-person hospital visits and structured telephone calls. In-person visits include functional reassessments, programme adjustments, symptom review, safety monitoring, and mental preparation sessions. Mental preparation integrates motivational interviewing techniques, goal setting, routine development, and basic mindfulness and imagery strategies aimed at supporting adherence and self-management.

The primary focus of the study is feasibility, assessed through recruitment capability, adherence to prescribed exercise sessions, participant retention over the 6-month period, and successful delivery and use of the home-based equipment. Safety is assessed through systematic monitoring and reporting of adverse events related to the intervention.

Secondary outcomes include changes in physical function and patient-reported outcomes. Functional performance is assessed using standardized physical tests at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Patient-reported outcomes, including health-related quality of life, fatigue, and programme acceptability, are collected at baseline, mid-program (3 months), and study completion (6 months).

All analyses are descriptive and aim to provide feasibility indicators and operational insights to inform the design of a future controlled trial and potential integration of supervised home-based physiotherapy into routine oncology care.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 21
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Floryane Dr Kim; Phone Number: +41 22 372 98 62; Email: floryane.kim@hug.ch

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Geneva, Switzerland, 1205
    • HUG

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Diagnosis of solid cancer, undergoing or recently completed treatment.
• Overall survival greater than 12 months, as judged by the treating oncologist
• Clinically stable and deemed fit for moderate exercise by the treating oncologist
• Able to use an exercise bike
• Home environment suitable for delivery and installation of the exercise bike
• Able to understand the study language and follow study instructions
• Able to give a written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical contraindication to moderate exercise (e.g. uncontrolled cardiac or pulmonary disease, recent myocardial infarction, severe anemia or acute infection, unstable bone metastases or high fracture risk)
• Cognitive impairment preventing active participation
• Physical inability to perform the prescribed exercise programme, including cycling and resistance exercises.
• Participation in another intensive rehabilitation program
• Any other condition that, in the opinion of the treating oncologist or investigator, makes participation unsafe or not feasible
• Pregnant or lactating women.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Other: Home-based supervised physiotherapy programme; Participants enrolled in this single-arm study receive a 6-month supervised home-based physiotherapy programme combining aerobic cycling, resistance training, and mental preparation, delivered and monitored by oncology-trained physiotherapists.

Behavioral: Home-based cycling + resistance training with physiotherapist supervision; Participants complete a 6-month supervised home-based physiotherapy programme. The intervention includes three weekly exercise sessions consisting of approximately 20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic cycling followed by 20 minutes of resistance training. Exercise intensity is prescribed and monitored using perceived exertion and heart rate. A stationary exercise bike is delivered and installed at the participant's home. Participants receive weekly supervision by oncology-trained physiotherapists through alternating in-person hospital visits and structured telephone calls. Mental preparation strategies, including motivational support and goal setting, are integrated during in-person visits to support adherence and self-management.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Retention rate	Percentage of participants completing the 6-month intervention and final assessments.	6 months
Adherence to prescribed exercise sessions	Percentage of planned home-based exercise sessions completed over 6 months.	6 months
Equipment installation and usability	Percentage of participants with successful delivery, installation, and safe use of the home-based exercise equipment.	6 months
Safety of the intervention	Number and type of adverse events and serious adverse events related to the programme.	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
6-minute walk test	Distance walked during the 6-minute walk test (meters).	Baseline and 6 months
Peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak)	Peak oxygen uptake measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), expressed in mL/kg/min.	Baseline and 6 months
5 Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5xSST)	Time to complete five sit-to-stand repetitions (seconds).	Baseline and 6 months
Handgrip strength	Maximal grip strength measured with a dynamometer (kilograms).	Baseline and 6 months
Health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status score)	Quality of life assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Scores range from 0 to 100. Higher scores on the global health status scale indicate better quality of life.	Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months
Participant satisfaction score	Participant satisfaction assessed using a study-specific questionnaire (score range 0-10, higher scores indicate greater satisfaction).	3 months and 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Geneva

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 12, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Patient Care; Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Resistance Training
• Other Study ID Numbers: PRADA-HUG

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No